Ben Carson Campaign Consultant: GOP Debates Have Become Comedy Central Roasts

A senior communications strategist on the now defunct presidential campaign of Dr. Ben Carson says the Republican party's debates have devolved into Comedy Central Debates.

Jason Osborn joined WIBX First News with Keeler in the Morning on Wednesday, discussing some of the challenges faced by the Carson campaign by having so many candidates in the race, along with the anti-establishment movement that is dominating the presidential race.

''This cycle was nothing we've ever seen before. When he started this there were 17 officially in the race, but at any given time there were over 20 considering getting in the race. It's really hard to breakout and provide a different voice. Particularly, when you had someone like Donald Trump that was sucking the air out of the air.

''You had to grab your opportunities and I think we had an opportunity last fall. For many reasons, the public flirted with [Ben Carson]...the interesting thing was they never stopped loving Dr. Carson but they didn't think he had the policy-chops to make it all the way,'' Osborn said.

On the anti-establishment movement, Osborn believes it has been brewing for some time. He cited the campaign finances reforms dating back to 2000, The Tea Party movement and the Occupy movement. ''The quote-unquote establishment isn't able to provide that base of support in a primary or a caucus,'' he said.

And, to the point of how the influence of public polls have effected the candidates, Osborn didn't hold back.

''We've turned these debates in Comedy Central Roasts, instead of policy debates, and we continue to feed into that. Donald Trump is Donald Trump. But, I don't think the other candidate need to step into that realm and bring it down even further.

''I remember thinking at the debate in Houston that Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio could gain the upper hand in this and turn Trump down. When I hear Marco Rubio say another candidate peed in his pants, I'm thinking why did he do that, he's a statesman, an elected official and he could have risen above that.''

On the upcoming showdown over Florida, Osborn doubted whether Rubio could even win his home state, especially after a missed chance to claim more delegates in Puerto Rico.